Ashland restaurant opens, emphasizes fresh food

Sunday

Apr 1, 2018 at 6:51 PMApr 1, 2018 at 6:51 PM

ASHLAND - Murphy's Eats and Treats opened its doors for the first time in recent weeks, following a total renovation of its West Union Street location.

Shaun Keefe, who co-owns the restaurant with wife Eileen Murphy, said the building - which previously housed another restaurant, Tasty Treat - had gone through a complete refit, with its plumbing and electrical systems - as well as its floorplan - seeing substantial upgrades.

The restaurant offer, among other items, seafood, burgers, salads, chicken sandwiches and ice cream. The food, said Keefe, is fresh and made to order - something that the new design of the building emphasizes.

"We went with a wide-open concept," he said. "No matter where you stand at the counter, you can see your food being prepared. We have big windows, so the kids can see their sundaes being made."

The site is also home to a miniature golf course, which Keefe hopes to re-open in late June. That course, he said, has also gone through extensive rehabilitation.

Keefe, who works in the transportation industry, said this is his first venture in the restaurant business for him and his wife, but it's been an aspiration for some time.

"It's something my wife and I have wanted to do," he said. "We've talked about it for many years. The opportunity came along, and we decided to take it.

"Ice cream's a much happier environment" than transportation, he added.

They had some familiarity with the location, since Keefe had visited and driven past the prior restaurant there. He called the place a "diamond in the rough" and, when it came available, opted to buy it.

Response, said Keefe, has been overwhelmingly positive since the business opened in mid-March.

"It's been unbelievably awesome," he said. "The comments we've been getting, the welcome from the community and the outpouring of support have been amazing."

Mike Gleason can be reached at 508-634-7546 or mgleason@wickedlocal.com. For news throughout the day, follow him on Twitter @MGleason_MDN.